| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the Florida Law Enforcement |
| 3 | Officers' Hall of Fame; creating s. 265.004, F.S.; |
| 4 | establishing the Florida Law Enforcement Officers' |
| 5 | Hall of Fame; providing for administration by the |
| 6 | Department of Law Enforcement; designating location; |
| 7 | providing procedures for selection, nomination, and |
| 8 | induction; providing an effective date. |
| 9 |
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| 10 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Section 1. Section 265.004, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 13 | to read: |
| 14 | 265.004 Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Hall of Fame.- |
| 15 | (1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and |
| 16 | honor those law enforcement officers who, through their works, |
| 17 | service, and exemplary accomplishments during or following their |
| 18 | service as a law enforcement officer, have dedicated their lives |
| 19 | to, and sacrificed their lives for, the safety of the citizens |
| 20 | of Florida and have made significant contributions to the state. |
| 21 | (2) There is established the Florida Law Enforcement |
| 22 | Officers' Hall of Fame. |
| 23 | (a) The Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Hall of Fame is |
| 24 | administered by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement |
| 25 | without appropriation of state funds. |
| 26 | (b) The Department of Management Services shall set aside |
| 27 | an area on the Plaza Level of the Capitol Building along the |
| 28 | northeast front wall and shall consult with the Department of |
| 29 | Law Enforcement regarding the design and theme of the area. |
| 30 | (c) Each person inducted into the Florida Law Enforcement |
| 31 | Officers' Hall of Fame shall have his or her name placed on a |
| 32 | plaque displayed in the designated area of the Capitol Building. |
| 33 | (3)(a) The Department of Law Enforcement shall annually |
| 34 | accept recommendations of persons to be considered as nominees |
| 35 | for induction into the Florida Law Enforcement Officers' Hall of |
| 36 | Fame. Recommendations to the department of potential nominees |
| 37 | are to be accepted from law enforcement organizations the |
| 38 | department deems appropriate, including, but not limited to, the |
| 39 | Police Benevolent Association. The department shall then choose |
| 40 | nominees from among the recommendations submitted and transmit |
| 41 | the names of those law enforcement officers to the Governor and |
| 42 | the Cabinet who will select the nominees to be inducted. |
| 43 | (b) In making its recommendations to the Governor and the |
| 44 | Cabinet, the Department of Law Enforcement shall give preference |
| 45 | to law enforcement officers who were born in Florida or adopted |
| 46 | Florida as their home state. |
| 47 | (4) The Department of Law Enforcement may establish |
| 48 | criteria and set specific time periods for the acceptance of |
| 49 | recommendations for nomination and for the process of selecting |
| 50 | nominees to forward to the Governor and Cabinet. The department |
| 51 | may establish, organize, and conduct a formal induction |
| 52 | ceremony. |
| 53 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2012. |